Saturday, June 17, 2017

In search of Monsoon went on
Bicycle around Coorg [Kodagu], covering Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Virajapete,
Madikeri and a hike to Tadiandamol
[second highest peak of Karnataka] on 17th & 18th
June 2017.Cycling is always thrill and
enjoyment especially in Monsoon.I was
eagerly waiting to enjoy this season; my last cycling journey was from
Shivamogga to Malpe sometime in February 2017 of this year.Again, accompanied with me, lovely friends
Shanthi Prasad & Sudhakar.If you
read my journey, most of the times they were with me, I am always happy to do
more and more with these wonderful guys.

Beautiful Trail on the way to Madikeri

I have chalked down the trail for
two days including a Tadiandamol trek, which is second highest peak in
Karnataka. I trekked this place
two years back with lovely bunch of friends, however considering the distance
in two days, decided to do this wonderful trek.

We booked the Volvo bus which
ends at Virajapete to avoid any luggage issues.
The bus was at 11.30 pm from Mysore Road Satellite Bus Stand. Bus arrived on time, conductor – drivers were
very co-operative, boarded our bikes and settled in our seats, journey went
well.

Night Journey to Virajapete

17.06.2017

As we expected the bus reached
early morning at 4.45 am to Virajapete.
We had enough of time to get refreshed and start our ride. Finished the morning core job at public
toilet at Bus stand, had hot tea & biscuits in a petty shop. Morning was pleasant atmosphere with cool
breeze, understood from the people, there was no rain since two days.

Early Morning at Virajapete

Very soon we crossed the town and
hit the Bhagamandala road. Virajapete
town hill was looking so beautiful from far, we stopped a while for morning
warm up. After short exercise to our
body, continued our journey.

Outskirt of Virajapete

The trail was rolling and not
much difficult, weather was very perfect for cycling. Not taking risk, asked the localities about
availability of breakfast, someone was suggested Kadambi.

Break for Breakfast

Soon we reached the
village, decided to take a break for breakfast.
Tiny village hotel served hot Dose + tea, continued our journey.

On the way to Tadiyandamol

Our target to reach by 11 am max
to Thammayya house, which is the base point for Tadiandamol trek. We had enough of relax time, now Sudhakar
& Shanthi Prasad were in mood to have the Jackfruit.

Jack fruit attempt

We found many trees, unfortunately could not able to get
a tasty fruit. But nature had not
disappointed us, found enough of Guava
fruits. They were crazy, filled our pocket and backpack.

Unlimited Guava Fruits

We took a deviation towards
Nalakhanda Palace road before Kakkabbe.
Passing through coffee estate continued our journey. Thank you to local people for making us to
awareness about Elephant movement around this place. We understood there were 8 elephants & 2
calf.

On the way to Nalakhanda Palace

Nalakhand Palace is on the way to
Tadiandamol peak, decided to explore a while this palace. Guide – cum –
Security guard explained about the palace.
Even though it looks very small, however it is very interesting palace.

Nalakhand Palace

Now the most difficult journey
started for the day. The trail become so tough, many places we could not able
to ride it.

Tough Trail

It was not so easy to ride
off road with steep trail, we had to stop in many places. Either we stopped for
photography or tiredness, reached the Thammayya house.

Sweet Thammayya Home - Night Camping

Smiling face, Thammayya welcomed
us, explained about our trek plan and stay at his home. He is very nice guy who provide a stay and
basic tasty food on demand. Parked our
bikes at his home and continued the trekking towards peak.

Beginning of the Trek

The Tadiandamol is peak around 4
KMs from his house. Appreciate Forest
department for initiating a check-post at base point. They charging entrance fee Rs.20/- each, I
think this is the lowest fees across Karnataka as of now.

Beautiful Valley

One more interesting and admirable thing is, they are collecting Rs.50/- as a security deposit each plastic bottle. The amount will be
refundable, once they bring it back and shown to officials. I personally recommend not to allow any
plastic bottles and other stuffs beyond the check-post point.

Tadiyandamol Valley

Paid the fees and finished the
entry permission formalities, continued our trek. The weather slowly turning
into rainy, the clouds & mist covering the valley. Thank you so much to Sudhakar for bringing
tasty homemade food for lunch, Chapati, Curd, Chatney, Onion and Pickle. We
decided to stop for lunch before rain hit, near big rock [common place of
camping for trekker] had yummy lunch.

Yummy Lunch

After a small relax, continued
our journey towards peak. The weather was completely turned into mist and
rain.

Relax Time

The valley was hide and seek in
the mist, drizzling added more cool in the atmosphere. Soon we entered in the forest range from open
grassland. Tadiyandamol trek is 95% in
grassland, only at one stretch we pass through forest.

In mid of Forest

How can be a trek without Leech
bite, yes, we all had first Leach bite of this monsoon. Hope leeches like my
blood more, I am the person got highest bites.
We were about to reach the peak, the rain started pouring heavily, the
valley was completely misty. Taking
short breaks at last we conquered the Tadiandamol peak.

On the Peak

The rain and mist was not shown
mercy on us to enjoy the valley, this was my second time upset for not seeing
the valley. The last attempt went vein in
misty & rain, this was not so different.
We waited for a while to get a valley vision, but could not. Started
descending towards our camping site, rain followed us till the base point.

Relax on peak

We settled our luggage at
Thammayya sweet home. We were lucky, only three of us in entire big house. I am
in love this place, an old home really gives lot of peace and joy to me. Tiered bodies wanted hot bath badly. We engaged
to light the fire and have a hot bath. Enjoyed entire big HANDE [big pot] of
hot water bath.

Hot Water Ready

The day was very relaxed, we did
around 30 KMs cycling and 8 KMs trek.
Thammayya called us for dinner at 8pm. Hot delicious Anna, Sambar, Happala,
Pickle filled our stomach. We can’t gauge their love and affection which shown
to us. Thanked them for serving tasty food and retired for the day.

18.06.2017

We all thought, the day will be a
long journey. The distance need to cover around 100+ KMs tough trail of Talakaveri
and Madikeri. Got up early and finished the morning core job. Now the time
adieu to Thammayya family, again thanked him for giving such a wonderful
hospitality.

Sweet Thammayya Family

One of my close childhood friend
Bandeppa is settled at Napoklu. Many
time I expressed to visit his home while I was trekking in Coorg, unfortunately
could not. Thought, this time I must
visit his home since it is on the way to Bhagamandala. I called him and expressed about my visit
with friends, so greeting invited us.

Off Roading

We struggled lot while ascending
the Palace to Thammayya house, downhill was also not so easy. Taken extra precaution while descending towards
Palace. Very soon we hit the Bhagamandala road junction, continued our journey
towards Napoklu passing through Kakkabbe.

Difficult Stretch

The distance is around 12 KMS
from Kakkabbe, my friend was constantly in touch with me to know about our
journey. I had been to his home twice before this, so taking assistance reached
at 8.30 am. He greeted with smiling face and exchanged the old golden
memories. Breakfast started with sweet
KESARIBAATH and finished with hot POORI and Daal. After spending more time,
decided to adieu to my friend. Thanked him for inviting us and serving
delicious breakfast.

My Beloved Friend

Our journey was continued towards
Bhagamandala. Considering the distance, decided to avoid the unnecessary
breaks. The weather was again turned into drizzling.

On the way to Bhagamandala

Most of the trail was
rolling one, soon reached the Bhagamandala.

The time was around 2.00 pm,
Sudhakar bike had some issues and expressed not to take a risk to ride to Talakaveri.
I and Shanthi Prasad accepted his request, we both continued our journey
towards Talakaveri. Yes, indeed it is continuous steep 8KMs long journey from
Bhagamandala, took both as a challenge to ride non-stop.

Bhagamandala Temple

Initial 4KMs journey is
manageable, the rest is tough. Taking
small breaks for photography, continued tireless Talakaveri journey. We about
to reach the peak, the atmosphere become misty.

On the way to Talakaveri

Visibility was very poor, we feeling like reaching heaven. Reached the Talakaveri taking 1 hour 25
minutes, relaxed for sometimes and started descending journey.

Talakaveri

Reached the
Bhagamandala very soon, Sudhakar was waiting for us. Now the time to fill our stomach with lunch. Hot
delicious food filled and relaxed for sometimes.

Pose to Kaveri Holy River Origin Place - Talakaveri

Bhagamandala to Madikeri distance
is around 39 KMs, keeping the target continued our journey. Now we started to feel the monsoon rain. The entire range was raining heavily,
continued enjoying the journey. Trail was mix of ups and down rolling one, soon
reached Betageri.

Monsoon Ride Touch

The last 10KMs will be toughest
one, so we took a long break. Sky was completely dark, Shanthi Prasad alone had
the torch, asked him to lead us. Our
journey was continued in the dark. The
rain was pouring with breaks, finally we hit the tough last mile of journey.
Taking small breaks, reached the Madikeri town around 8.30 pm.

Somewhere in dense forest

Enquired about some good hotel
for dinner, localities suggested Ambika hotel which near Bus Stand. Finished
our dinner and waited for bus. Return
journey schedule was around 11.30pm which start from Madikeri. We were lucky,
the driver-conductor were cool, loaded our bikes, relaxed in the seat. The
journey went well with mesmerizing our wonderful journey.

Overall ride was around 135 KMs
including 8 KMs trek to Tadiyandamol.
This was our first cycling trip which including a trek. Thank you so much to Shanthi Prasad and
Sudhakar joining with beautiful ride.